Taking note of the signs and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause can help you understand what’s happening in your body. As your body changes, here are signs you may experience at every age.
Menopause marks the end of your reproductive years and the next biological stage of your life. But this stage doesn’t just come on suddenly. Your body transitions into menopause over time, during a phase known as perimenopause .
Biological shifts and changes in hormone production (namely estrogen and progesterone ) drive the transition through perimenopause and into menopause. For many, these changes can bring lots of uncomfortable, distressing, and even painful perimenopause symptoms .
While these symptoms vary from one person to the next, having a general idea of what to expect—and when to expect it—can help you understand what’s happening in your body. So, what are signs of menopause at 40, and are they different from symptoms of menopause at 50? Here’s a look at the signs and symptoms of menopause at every age, from the start of perimenopause all the way to menopause.
When does menopause happen? Menopause is the end of your reproductive years. After menopause, you no longer ovulate, your menstrual cycles and period have stopped, and you can no longer get pregnant.
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Menopause is officially diagnosed once you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period. The diagnosis is retroactive, since you can’t be sure right away whether or not a period was your last.
If you get another period, you’re still in perimenopause and the 12-month countdown to official menopause restarts—no matter how long it’s been since the period before. You may even go 60 days or more between periods in late perimenopause!
Perimenopause can begin anytime in your late 30s to mid 40s. Perimenopause lasts seven years on average, but duration varies from person to person and may take anything from a few months to a decade or more.
Menopause follows perimenopause, generally occurring in your 40s or 50s. In the US, the median age of natural menopause (meaning menopause that’s not medically induced) is 51.
Each menopause experience is different. Various changes and symptoms may be triggered at different moments. Factors like age at the start of perimenopause, race and ethnicity, overall health, and lifestyle differences can all influence your perimenopause and menopause timeline.
If you’re wondering where you are in the menopausal transition, certain signs and symptoms can give you insight into what’s happening in your body.
What are signs of menopause? Millions of people experience symptoms during perimenopause and menopause. In fact, around 85% of women report having symptoms, many of which are present throughout both stages.
This symptom overlap is partly why perimenopause and menopause are often confused with one another. We commonly refer to the entire transitional period as “menopause,” and people who say they’re menopausal may really be perimenopausal.
>>MORE: Perimenopause vs. Menopause: What’s the Difference?
Each transitional period is unique (you don’t automatically start hot flashes at age 43, for example!), but outlining approximate age ranges and signs of menopause at every age is possible.
Here’s a general timeline of the physical, mental, and emotional signs and symptoms of menopause that you may experience as you move through perimenopause and into menopause.
Signs of menopause at 40 to 45 For most people ages 40 to 45, official menopause hasn’t yet occurred. Instead, signs of menopause at 40 are usually perimenopause symptoms, or the initial stage of the menopausal transition. If you haven’t experienced any signs of menopause at 40 to 45, don’t worry—it just means you may not have begun your transition yet.
So, what signs of the menopause transition should you look out for in your early 40s?
Changes in your period and menstrual cycle There are many changes in your period and cycle you might start to experience, including:
Your period may become heavier or lighter Your cycles may shorten or lengthen You may skip periods and go long stretches of time without bleeding You may experience spotting In short, your cycle and period become irregular in perimenopause.
Decreasing fertility Fertility begins declining more quickly during perimenopause before it ends at menopause. Whether you’re trying to conceive or you want to avoid pregnancy, tracking your ovulation during perimenopause can help.
Vasomotor symptoms Vasomotor symptoms, commonly known as hot flashes and night sweats (nighttime hot flashes) are sudden and intense feelings of heat in the face, neck, chest, and upper back, sometimes accompanied by heart palpitations and chills after the heat. Up to 80% of people experience hot flashes, making them one of the most common symptoms of the menopausal transition.
Vaginal symptoms As estrogen decreases, vaginal atrophy can occur. Vaginal walls may become thinner and vaginal lubrication may decrease, leading to symptoms like dryness, irritation, itching, burning, discomfort or pain during sex, overactive bladder, and recurrent urinary tract infections.
Changes in libido Many people experience a decrease in sex drive during perimenopause related to factors like hormonal changes, vaginal symptoms, and emotional symptoms. It’s also possible, though rarer, to have an increase in libido during perimenopause .
Mood changes and depression While you may be familiar with mood changes as a premenstrual symptom, mood swings during perimenopause are common, too. Lots of people report feeling angry, irritable, anxious, and even depressed as hormone levels (estrogen in particular) drop.
Sleep disturbances Night sweats, emotional symptoms, and changing life circumstances can all make it harder to get quality sleep. You may toss and turn at night, and feel tired during the day.
Headaches and migraine Hormonal changes, particularly the fluctuations and decrease in estrogen, can lead to an uptick in frequency and severity of headaches and migraine . Some may even develop migraine for the first time during perimenopause.
Brain fog Cognition can be impacted during perimenopause, commonly known as brain fog . You may have difficulty concentrating, and feel forgetful and mentally cloudy.
Weight gain A combination of factors—including hormones, slower metabolism, aging, and lifestyle habits— can all lead to weight gain during perimenopause , particularly in the abdomen.
Joint pain Hormonal changes, particularly in estrogen, can cause joint stiffness, discomfort, inflammation, reduced flexibility, and general soreness. Joint pain is common, affecting 71% of perimenopausal people.
While rare, it’s not unheard of to reach menopause in your early 40s. About 5% of people experience what’s called “early menopause,” or menopause that occurs between the ages of 40 and 45. Menopause symptoms tend to be more severe for people who go through early menopause.
Signs of menopause at 45 to 50 Most people reach official menopause—meaning they’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period—between the ages of 45 and 56.
That means that between 45 and 50, lots of people will enter late perimenopause and transition past official menopause. So, what are the signs of menopause at 45 to 50? It all depends on when exactly you officially reach menopause, but, for example, menopause symptoms at age 47 are likely similar to the symptoms of menopause at 50.
Some signs and symptoms may worsen as official menopause approaches, peaking in intensity in the months leading up to or following the final period. Others may appear for the first time.
After your hormones have stabilized into their new, lower, postmenopausal levels, though, you may find that many menopause symptoms start to go away.
Vasomotor symptoms Hot flashes and night sweats may worsen the closer you get to menopause, and intensity peaks in the 12 months following the final period. Vasomotor symptoms gradually resolve after menopause, but can last for another 10 years.
Vaginal symptoms With your body’s estrogen production at its lowest after official menopause, vaginal, sexual, and urinary symptoms related to vaginal atrophy may worsen.
Changes in libido More severe vaginal symptoms can make sex more unappealing or even painful, which may make you less interested in intimacy. Others may feel sexier after official menopause and the end of pregnancy risk, which can drive desire.
Mood changes and depression You may continue to experience emotional symptoms related to hormonal changes, your changing body, and, for some, adjusting to the end of fertility. This can be a challenging period, and you may feel menopause depression as a result of the transition, other symptoms, or hormones.
Sleep disturbances Trouble sleeping can continue into menopause, and may worsen. Studies have shown that sleep disturbances are even more common postmenopause than during perimenopause.
>>MORE: Menopause Insomnia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Headaches and migraine headaches and migraine can increase in frequency and intensity as estrogen reaches its lowest point, but after official menopause you may get a reprise. Studies have shown that postmenopausal people may be less susceptible to headaches and migraine.
Brain fog Symptoms of brain fog may start to improve after you reach menopause.
Weight gain As hormones stabilize after menopause, weight gain tends to slow or even plateau , particularly when you also maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
Joint pain Some people may experience a decrease in joint pain after menopause, but for many, joint pain continues. Studies show that postmenopausal women can be at higher risk of moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain compared to premenopausal ones.
Changes in skin The closer you get to menopause—and the older you get—the more your skin changes . Skin may become drier or thinner, and may start to lose its elasticity.
Hair changes As you approach menopause, you may experience hair loss or thinning on your head. You may also notice more hair growth on your face and body.
Bone loss Menopause increases the risk of bone loss and osteoporosis. As estrogen declines, bone loss speeds up—up to 20% of bone loss happens around this time, and rates of osteoporosis are higher in postmenopausal people.
Heart disease The risk of heart disease increases following menopause. Consider talking with your doctor about how to manage this risk.
How to treat menopause symptoms at any age If your perimenopause and menopause symptoms impact your quality of life, at any age, there are lots of treatment options, whether you’re looking for natural or medical interventions.
Options include:
These methods can all help you manage perimenopause and menopause symptoms and find relief.
>>MORE: Perimenopause Treatment: 9 Ways to Find Relief (And How to Know It’s Working)
Signs of menopause at every age: the bottom line Taking note of signs of perimenopause and menopause can help you understand what’s happening in your body and which stage of your life you’re in.
While perimenopause and menopause have many symptoms in common, some signs are particular to one stage are the other.
If you’re struggling with perimenopause and menopause, talk to your doctor openly about any and all symptoms you experience—at any age. Together, you can create the right treatment plan, medical or otherwise, to help you adjust to your changing body and improve your quality of life.
